Image: Joe Hansen | DOC
Kawakawa Hut.
Kawakawa Hut

Located in Aorangi Forest Park in the Wairarapa region

This is a standard six-bunk hut in the Wairarapa region.

The hut was built by the New Zealand Forest Service in 1965 for pest animal control work in the area. It was designed to be flown around the backcountry by helicopter, but it was found to be too heavy for airlifting, it was transported to its present site by the army. The walls are lined with corrugated cardboard for insulation.

Facilities

  • Heating - wood burner

Fees

  • Adult (18+ years): $15 per night
  • Youth (5–17 years): $7.50 per night
  • Child/Infant (0–4 years): free

Before you go, buy a hut ticket online for each night's stay. You can print or display the digital ticket on your device, or write down the ticket and confirmation numbers to take with you. You can also buy a Backcountry Hut Pass that allows you to stay at non-bookable DOC huts for a 12 month period.

Backcountry hut ticket terms and conditions

Approximate times from nearest road and huts

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BQ33
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1791270, N5399681

There is no access to the hut from Cape Palliser road via Kawakawa Stream. This section is through private land which is closed to the public.